Top 5 Starting Lineups In Nets History — Where Does 2013-14 Rank?

Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez
Is this the best opening night lineup in Nets history? We investigate. (AP)

5. Opening Night 1992-93

Derrick Coleman, Avery Johson, Kenny Anderson
Note the defender.

C – Sam Bowie, PF – Derrick Coleman, SF – Chris Morris, SG – Drazen Petrovic, PG – Kenny Anderson

You might expect to find the 1997-98 or 1999 teams here. Slam Magazine did have a feature in 1998 entitled “2001: A Nets Odyssey,” which predicted the Nets would win a title in 2001 with a starting five of Sam Cassell, Kerry Kittles, Keith Van Horn, Jayson Williams and Kendall Gill.

Welp. We are talking about opening night, but performance in-season has to count for something. The lockout-shortened season of 1999 saw the Nets trade off Cassell for the mercurial Stephon Marbury, and fail to make the playoffs with a 16-34 record. (Plus, Kittles didn’t start in either season’s opener.)

And if we are going with potential, why not the 1992-93 Nets? Fan favorite Drazen Petrovic had a breakout season in 1991-92, averaging 20.6 points per game. Former first overall NBA draft pick Derrick Coleman followed up his Rookie of the Year campaign with 19.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Kenny Anderson, the 2nd overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, had a shaky rookie season but his talent was still widely respected. Chris Morris and Sam Bowie were, uh, also there. Morris wasn’t anything to write home about, but he was still a solid NBA player, and he shattered a backboard in the 1992-93 season, so +1 for that. Bowie is best known for “How could you not pick Jordan?!” but when healthy, he was a starting-caliber NBA center.

The Nets beat Philly 114-111 that night, and would go on to win 43 games and make the playoffs. The Sixers would only win 26 games that year, though I’m sure current Suns coach and then-Sixers forward Jeff Hornacek would kill for 26 wins this season.

Next: The 4th-Best Opening Night Lineup in Nets History